3 Shorts

3 Short stories:

Tayden made a monster spider snowman this morning.

4 eyes, 8 arms, a beard and 100 lbs of scary.

He was proud.

...

Beckett went to give Scott a kiss on the cheek the other night. 

Instead he kissed him right under the eye.

Scott laughed and asked why he kissed him there. 

Beckett, pointing to Scotts beard said, "Me no like that thing. It pokes me. This spot no poke me"

...

 After two nights of sleep training, this boy finally slept through the night. 

 Only took 14 months! 

Christmas-ing

Its the middle of December and we are in full blown Christmas mode. With the lack of winter weather in Las Vegas its easy to forget what time of year it is, so we kind of go overboard with Christmas stuff so we can experience our own Las Vegas Christmas magic. 

We put up the tree the night of Thanksgiving. I have a strict 'no touching the Christmas tree or presents' policy in my house. Even Cache abides. This year the boys wanted to help decorate so in the spirit of Christmas, I let them. We made a huge disaster and I was on the brink of a over obsessive break down, but it was fun and I fixed everything as soon as they went to bed. 

Since I am crazy about my tree I let the boys participate in everything else Christmas. This is the advent calender they helped create and put up on the wall. Everyday there is a new activity to do as a family. Some days it's a fun activity like building a fort and reading Christmas books or watch a favorite Christmas movie and drink hot chocolate. Other days it is a spiritual experience to help remember the reason for the season like writing out our gifts to Jesus this year or brainstorming ideas to bring peace into our home. As gifts to Christ, Dad decided to be nice. Mom worked on patience. Tayden was going to try harder to listen to Mom and Dad. Beckett was practicing using his nice voice (really we just wanted to help him speak in general). And Cache was going to try to sleep at night. 

We've been Christmasing quite a bit so far this December. Here are a few things we've done.

Our ward Christmas party was a blast this year. Scott had to work so braved it alone with the boys. There was a fun photo booth with Christmas props and an outdoor train ride that the kids loved. I love our new ward!

 Santa also sent the boys personalized videos. This was the first time the boys watched their message from Santa. They were pretty enamored. 

We ventured out for our traditional Christmas outing with the Turneys. The night includes the conservatory at the Bellagio, dinner and McDonalds and then the lights at the Cactus gardens. We've done it for the past three Christmases and it always proves to be one of my favorite nights. I love the picture of Scott and the kids on the stroller. This is the most legit stroller you will every come across. Four kids, one awesome stroller. Doesn't get better. 

I love seeing the progression of my family. 

Below is baby Caches WOW face. Isn't it the sweetest? He was impressed with the awesome decorations of the Bellagio. They really were something else this year, complete with flying reindeer, walk through snow globe and the biggest Christmas tree.

And of course, on of my favorite things is wrapping presents and putting them under the tree. I have a slight infatuation with wrapping and displaying. Scott laughs at me, but I just love wrapping things. 

And lastly, but certainly most important. We've been talking about the birth of our Savior. Everything else is so fun and easy to get wrapped up in, but it is about a babe in swaddling clothes born in the lowliest of mangers, who gave us the perfect example to follow and died so we can live. Its the sweet truth of Christmas and I pray that I can convey that to my children and help them gain a testimony of Savior. 

  

 

This really is the best time of the year. 

CPK

I love being surrounded by fun moms who plan fun things for the kids. Yesterday morning we toured California Pizza Kitchen. It was so fun. 

The kids were provided with coloring pages and crayons as we waited for everyone to show up. We had a great group with 13 of our friends. 

Beckett loved the tour guide, Ms. Rachel. She did a great job with the kids and B thought she was so cool. She was explaining the rules and half the other kids were paying attention else where, but B was stuck on her every word. It was cute. 

After coloring the kids got to make their own pizzas. They had sauce, cheese, pepperoni, ham and pineapples and the kids went to town. Beckett of course had about 20 pineapples and a few slices of meat. Tayden opted for cheese and cheese and more cheese. While the pizzas cooked in the fire oven, we took a tour of the rest of the restaurant. 

After the tour ended the staff handed out the pizzas and the kiddies chowed down on their creations. Never mind that it was 10:00 in the morning, the boys finished almost every last bite. And what they took home they finished for lunch an hour later. 

Tayden and Hannah. I'm saving this for their wedding video. :)

And of course Cache needed some pizza too.

Best pizza faced friends. These boys make my world go round.

It was such a fun morning.

I love having the chance to do so many fun things in Las Vegas! 

Pup Problems

Besides being cold.

Super cold.

Cold enough for coats and hats.

Still sunny though and super bright. They could hardly keep their eyes open let alone look at me. 

And being the cutest spider man ever.

And working on Mom's projects.

This week has been pretty quiet. Not a lot happening. Boys have had school, we've played with friends, had a Christmas dance party every night. Just the usual. 

One mentionable story though. I decided to sell our sweet Tanner.

I've said it 1000 times before and I'll say it again. He is my dog. He tolerates the kids, but nothing more. He is my shadow and follows me around all day. When the kids aren't in my lap, he is. I love him, but had asked myself what was the point of having a dog if the whole family is lacking benefit. And on top of that he has started to get growly with Cache if his dog food is on the floor or if the baby goes near his kennel. I will not have a dog in my house that I can not trust with my kids. So I put an ad up for him and with in the day I had found a home for him. It was great. No kids, another small dog and a lady that worked from home. The perfect arrangement. 

Well almost perfect, the kids were torn up. Begging all day to keep the dog and telling us that he belonged in our home. Crying to keep him and holding on the kennel with every ounce of their being as we loaded up the car with Tanners belongings. And don't even get me started about me. I was a basket case. Every time I looked at the pup, tears over flowed and I bawled a good 90% of the day. Yet, I stood strong that this was the right choice.

I took Tayden in with me to the new house. As I told them about Tanner I cried and cried. He looked so out of place in that house. For the full 30 minutes we were in the home Tayden told me over and over that Tanner hated it there or he wanted to come home with us. He promised me multiple times that he'd be good and he'd never tease the dog every again.  He told the nice couple, "This is my dog and he doesn't want to live with you. He wants to live with me." I thought it would give him peace seeing that Tanner was going to be in a good home and happy, but it was the exact opposite. Which broke my heart more.

In the end, I ended up backing out. There was no way I could give up my dog without trying a few new things. Don't get me wrong...I love my dog, but I love my kids more. If he ever bites them, he's gone. No question. But Scott and I decided to change his feeding schedule and move his kennel. So there is no longer food down during the day and its helped immensely. In fact, he hasn't really growled at all since we've made the change. And then miraculously over night Cache lost all interest in the kennel. He doesn't even go near it and that makes for a less stressed dog. I'm so glad we decided to work on a few things that would allow us to keep him. We've had him for seven years and he is part of the family. A grumpy part...but a part non the less.

In the mean time, we've had some talks with the boys about the dog. They've expressed how they want a dog to run and play with. They want a dog they can pet and take on walks and let sleep in their room. Mostly, they want Bentley back. And since that can't happen...we caved and decided to get them a dog of their own. Well, mostly Scott caved. I've wanted a big dog for well over a year, but Scott has never been on board. But, he is now. We are always going to be that house that has pets. I was resistant to that fact at first, but now I have embraced it and glad that my kids will grow up around animals and learn the responsibility of taking care of them. Tayden currently has 3 goldfish and he does a great job feeding them every morning and helping clean the tank. Both boys are also in charge of helping clean up after Tanner. Not saying you can't teach kids responsibility without animals, I am just grateful we have the chance to teach it to them with animals. 

Dogs are expensive and since it will mostly be the boys dog--they are working for it. We are saving as a family. The boys can do chores to help put in money and mom and dad will contribute as we can. We probably won't have enough for about a year and I am desperately hoping the boys don't run out of steam. But I am assuming they will. 

They help with anything I can think of. This particular morning they were cleaning my bath tub. And of course Cache had to get in o the fun. 

The trusty applesauce jar containing $5.41. 

We'll get there! 

In the meantime, I love seeing them work for something they want.

And I love that I got to keep my pup.

Redemption

Ah, sweet redemption!

We made scones the other night for FHE. 

They didn't rise.

Do you realize what that means?

How great of news that is?!

It means I didn't kill the Thanksgiving rolls after all.

We got some bad yeast.

It was to blame, not me.

Ah, the simple satisfactions! 

Now if only I can find something to blame the turkey on too.

Pride

I'd really like to skip over my Thanksgiving post and go straight into why I am so proud of the boys in my family, but hopefully one day I will look back and laugh and be glad I wrote down my awful first Thanksgiving dinner.

We decided to stay in Vegas over the holiday. Normally friends stay too and we have a big dinner, not this year. We were the only ones to stay so I decided to do the whole meal for my family. Long story short--Turkey was not good. Dry and chewy. I put my mother in laws famous orange rolls next to the oven to rise and killed the yeast. I didn't get them done in time for dinner, but cooked them later. It was like eating rocks. Scott decided the night before he wanted chocolate pie as well as pumpkin pie. The chocolate pie crust was a mega bust, so we've just been eating the filling. I managed the potatoes and pumpkin pie--that's about it. Bless my sweet husband who ate it up and told it was fine. I love him. And just when I was feeling more confident in my kitchen skills. Oh well, here's to next year.

Now, the reason I am so proud. My ward is moving into a new church building. The nurseries don't have any toys so they have asked the members to donate any gently used toys. I talked to the boys about it all week and they were less than enthusiastic. But Wednesday rolled around and we spent a majority of the morning picking out toys to donate. It was really hard for them. I didn't anticipate them being so sentimental about some of the things. They wanted to keep everything if they remembered who gave it to them. Regardless of if they still played with it--it was important to them because of who gave it to them. It was sweet. In the end they gathered over a box full of stuff and felt proud of themselves for helping.

Beckett refused a picture. 

Proud of Cache just because he is the worlds greatest one year old. And the worlds greatest shopping partner. 

And to say I was proud of Scott would be a compete understatement. Just when I think I am full to the gills with amazement he does something else and my pride just gushes over the top. This past week he was named a peak performer for his company. An honor that only 1% of employees get and is a big deal. He has only been there two years and is proving to be more valuable and useful then people that have served out there for over ten. He gives everything he has to his job and I am so glad he was recognized not only from colleagues and his boss, but the head bosses and whole company. Its a huge accomplishment.

On top of that he got a new calling as assistant ward clerk. So he puts in 14 hour days, has a fairly big calling considering his free time, does things around the house non stop and still finds time to make his wife feel loved. I am gushing. He is the greatest.

These four boys are the purpose of my life. I love them more than anything. I am so proud and so grateful for them. So its okay if my dinner was awful, because my family is my main focus this time of year!  

Backyard

 Since we've moved into the house I've had to tell myself multiple times that things will take time to do and not everything will be perfect at once. I have a mile long wish list full of projects to complete, walls to paint, curtains to sew and on and on. 

But one thing we decided not to wait any longer on was the backyard. Its crazy how small of a dirt patch can bring so much dust and dirt into my house. And its small. Las Vegas yards can hardly be qualified as a yard at all. And since the builder cut 2 whole feet off the back, its really small. But, our kids don't know any different and they are just excited to have space outside and grass of their very own. 

So that is exactly what their dad is doing. He has been working non stop on getting the sprinkler system installed so we can lay sod. He is the handiest of men and I love it. He's never laid a sprinkler system before, that I know of, yet he's out there like a professional. Things just make sense to Scott and I love watching him work it out. 

 Hard at work. 

I wish you could see the mountains behind us. We really have a great view. For now.

Its long and skinny, but its our own.

And I couldn't be happier about it.